California wildfires: End in sight for Klamathon, County fires

In this photo taken Thursday, July 5, 2018, the Klamathon Fire burns near Copco Road in Hornbrook, Calif. The wildfire burning through drought-stricken timber and brush near California's border with Oregon has killed one person and destroyed multiple structures. (Danielle Jester/Siskiyou Daily News via AP) less

In this photo taken Thursday, July 5, 2018, the Klamathon Fire burns near Copco Road in Hornbrook, Calif. The wildfire burning through drought-stricken timber and brush near California's border with Oregon has ... more

Photo: Danielle Jester / Associated Press

Photo: Danielle Jester / Associated Press

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In this photo taken Thursday, July 5, 2018, the Klamathon Fire burns near Copco Road in Hornbrook, Calif. The wildfire burning through drought-stricken timber and brush near California's border with Oregon has killed one person and destroyed multiple structures. (Danielle Jester/Siskiyou Daily News via AP) less

In this photo taken Thursday, July 5, 2018, the Klamathon Fire burns near Copco Road in Hornbrook, Calif. The wildfire burning through drought-stricken timber and brush near California's border with Oregon has ... more

The Klamathon Fire, which started July 5 in Siskiyou County, was 75 percent contained Thursday evening at 36,500 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.

Throughout the week, as many as 2,299 responders have worked to establish containment lines with one major challenge: gaining access to the north side of the fire.

Overnight Wednesday into Thursday, crews established containment lines north of the blaze and minimal fire activity was expected as the fire remained inside the perimeter, Cal Fire said.

The body of John Karl Bermel, 72, of Hornbrook, was found July 6 and it took investigators almost a week to identify him due to the state of his remains. Investigators are conducting a toxicology report to confirm the cause of death was indeed related to the fire.

Three firefighters have also been injured while combatting the blaze.

A total of 82 structures have been destroyed, 12 were damaged and 315 continue to be threatened.

All mandatory evacuations have been lifted for California and Oregon residents, though residents of Jackson County, Ore., were advised to remain on alert.

Authorities say the blaze began July 5 after a resident who lives southwest of the Klamath River, while on a friend’s property, lit a small fire. That fire, the authorities said, spread to a tree, jumped the river and raced into nearby hills.

The Klamathon Fire has been one of nearly a dozen wildfires ravaging the state.

The County Fire, the largest active wildfire in the state, has burned 90,288 acres in Yolo and Napa counties, but firefighters have gained the upper hand. As of Thursday evening, the blaze was 95 percent contained.

The owner of the property in the rural Yolo County community of Guinda was cited for illegally starting the County Fire, which began June 30. Cal Fire officials did not release the property owner’s name or elaborate on what went wrong with the fence.

Twenty structures have been destroyed in the fire and three have been damaged. No injuries have been reported.